Axle and axle-box.



w. 0. SHADBOLT.

AXLE AND AXLE BOX.

APPLICATION FILED OCT-31. I914.

Patented July 27, 1915.

WITH/8858 Fl E.

AXLE nnn' nxnn nox.

Specification of Letters l'atent.

Patented July 27, 1915.

Application filed October 31, .1914. Serial D10. 869,642.

To-all whom itma z concern:

Be itknown that I, VVJLLIAM Oscar .SHAD-.

BOLT, a citizen of the United States, and a residentof the borough of Brooklyn, 1n the city and Stateof New York, have invented certain new .and useful Improvements in.

Axles and Axle-Boxes, of which the following is .a specification.

My "nvention relates to axles and axle boxes, and more particularly to improved '-means for the lubrication of the'sam e; and

means whereby .the escape of the lubricating .tudinal sectional view of one form of my limprovedax le-boxand ad acent parts; Fig.

2 is an end view of the same as seen from the right of Fig. 1, showing certain portions broken away :for the disclosure of the internal parts; Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on the'line 33 of Fig. 1 andlooking in the direction of the arrows; Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken on .the line l4 of Fig.

:1, looking in :the direction of the arrows ad jacent the said line 4.4, and Fig. 5 is a perspective view, partly in section, of a modified form of my invention, showing a portion of the mechanism analogous to that shown atthe left of Fig. 1'.

invention is applicable .to either an axle spindle provided with grooves or other channels for the circulation of lubricating material, or to the ordinary form of axle provided with a plain spindle. In this ap plication I describe the invention-as applied to an axle and spindle of the first named type, but I do not limit .myself thereto.

In carrying my invention 'into effect in the embodiment thereof which I have selected for illustration in the accompanying drawings and description in this specification, I provide an axle, a portion of which I have shown in Fig. 1 and designated 11.

This .axle is provided with the .usual'collar 12, and aspindle :13, the end of said spindle being provided with screw threads, as shown at 14:, for :the reception of a nut 15.

The spindle is also provided with a transverse ,perforation near its outer end adapted to receive .a pm 28. I also provlde an axle-box, as shown in the accompanylng drawings, designated 16. This axle-box is held firmly against longitudinal displace ment between the collar 12 and a flange 17 onthenut 15. It is, however, together with .any ,parts which may be secured .to the external side thereof, free to rotate upon the spindle .13. At the outer end of the spindle 16, and rigidly secured thereto either by means of screw threads, as shown in Fig. 1, or in any other suitable manner, is a casing 18. This casing incloscs the nut 15, with its flange 17, and protects the same from inury, but its principal use is to form a receptacle 21 for the axle grease or similar substance used to lubricate the axle. This casing 18 is provided at its outer end with a cap 19 secured thereon by screw threads. (See Fig. 1),. This cap is provided with two recessed portions 20., to which aspanner wrench may be applied in removing or replacing the same, and which also, by projecting into the receptacle 21, serve :to keep the .axle grease thoroughly mixed, and to prevent the same from adhering to .the nut 15.

Extending longitudinally along the upper side of thespindle .18 isia groove 22, which is connected with the receptacle 21Iby .means of a perforation 23 in the flange 17 of the nut 15. Approximately midway the length of the sp'indle 13 .is an annular groove 24:, .(see Figs. 1 and 3) connected at the upper side of the spindle with the groove 22. At the lower side of the spindle, and extending upward thereinto from the groove 24, is a transverse perforation '25. At the axis of the spindle, this perforation connects with a second perforation 2.6, extending longitudinallyof the spindle from the upper end of the perforation 25 to the outer end'of the screw threaded portion 14, where it connects with the receptacle 21. The perforation 26 is provided with an enlarged portion ,27 at its outer end, in order that the opening may not be obstructed by the pin 28.

It has been foundthat when axle'bearings are lubricated by any of the methods generally used, the grease tends to escape around theends of the axle-box, wasting the same, accumulating dust, sand and grit, and if the axle is used in connection with a wooden hub or some similar device, the grease tends to rot the wood, and to loosen the spokes in their sockets. The overcoming of this objectionable feature is one of the.objects of my invention. It has already f the box.

been seen that all grease flowing past the outer end of the box enters the receptacle 21. As this receptacle is rigidly attached to the axle-box, and is tightly closed on all sides, no grease can escape at that end of At the inner end of the axle-box it is necessary, however, to make some provision against the escape of grease between the end of the axle-box and the collar 12. For this purpose I employ a ring 29 of fiber or some similar material surrounding the junction between the said axle-box and collar. The fiber, being a comparatively soft substance will, under pressure from the outside, yield somewhat and tend to fit over the box and collar tightly enough to prevent the escape of grease. This fiber ring 29 is split, as shown at 30. If the ring wears down, or is not sufficiently tight when puton, the two portions of the ring adjacent each other on opposite sides of the split will have sufficient play with relation to each other to enable the ring to tighten up over the box and collar, provided it is subjected to pressure from the outside. The necessary external pressure is obtained by the use of a split ring of spring metal or the like, designated 31, which is sprung on over the fiber ring 29.

In the modification shown in Fig. 5, two metal split rings, here designated 33 and 34, are employed instead of the single ring 31 of Figs. 1 and 4. As the collar and box rotate with relation to each other, and as the fiber ring is a moderately tight fit upon both, it is obvious that the said fiber ring may either rotate with the box, or remain stationary on the collar, or may alternatel rotate and remain stationary. It will therefore be seen that one side of the ring may become worn more than the other side, and by the useof two outer spring rings instead of one either side of the ring may be tightened to a slight degree independently of the other. In this Fig. 5 I have designated the axle 35, the collar 36, the box 37, the spindle 38, and the fiber ring 39.

The advantages of my invention will be obvious from what has been said above concerning its construction and mode of operation. I do not limit myself to the exact form described, as it is obvious that various changes could be made without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention,

such as for instance, the use of the same in' connection with a pulley and its shaft, being 7 applicable either to that type of pulley which is fast on the shaft and rotates therewith, or that type which rotates about a stationary shaft; as will be readily understood.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is as follows:

1. In an axle and axle-box, the combination with an axle-tree having a spindle, of

an axle-box surrounding said spindle, a packing ring surrounding the line of contact between the inner end of said box and said axle, and an outer spring ring adapted to hold said packing ring in position.

2. In an axle and axle-box, the combination with an axle-tree having a spindle, a packing ring surrounding the line of contact between the inner end of said box and the axle, and a plurality of outer spring rings adapted to hold said packing ring in position.

3. In an axle and axle-box the combination with an axle-tree having a spindle, of an axle-box provided with a receptacle secured to its outer end and inclosing the end of said spindle, said receptacle being adapted to contain lubricating material and being provided with a lid, and a packing ring surrounding the line of contact between the inner end of said axle-box and said axletree, and an outer spring split-ring adapted to hold the said packing ring in position.

4. In an axle and axle-box the combination with an axle-tree having a spindle, of an axle-box provided with a receptacle, secured to its outer end and inclosing the end of said spindle, said receptacle being adapted to contain lubricating material and being provided with a lid having inward projections, and a packing ring surrounding the line of contact between the inner end of said axle-box and said axle-tree, and an outer spring split-ring adapted to hold said packing ring in position.

5. In an axle and axle-box the combination with an axle-tree having a spindle, and a nut on the end of said spindle, of an axlebox provided with a receptacle secured to its outer end and inclosing said nut, said receptacle being adapted to contain lubricating material and being provided with a lid, and a packing ring surrounding the line of contact between the inner end of said axlebox and said axle-tree, and an outer spring split-ring adapted to hold said packing ring in position. I

6. In an axle and axle-box the combination with an axle-tree having a spindle, and a nut on the end of said spindle, of an axlebox provided with a receptacle rigidly attached to its outer end and inclosing said nut, said receptacle being adapted to contain lubricating material and being provided with a lid having inward projections, and a packing ring surrounding the line of contact between the inner end of said axlebox and said axle-tree, and an outer spring split-ring adapted to hold said packing ring 7 ed to contain lubricating material and being provided with a lid, and a packing ring surrounding the line of contact between the inner end of said axle-box and said axletree, and a plurality of outer spring splitring's adapted to hold said packing ring in position.

8. In an axle and axle-box the combination with an axle-tree having a spindle, :of an axle-box provided with a receptacle, secured to its outer end and inclosing the end of said spindle, said receptacle being adapted to contain lubricating material and being provided with a lid having inward projections, and a packing ring surrounding the line of contact between the inner end of said axle-box and said axle-tree, and a plurality of outer spring split-rings adapted to hold said packing ring 1n position.

9. In an axle and axle box the combination with an axle-tree having a spindle,and a nut on the-end of said spindle, of an axlebox provided with a receptacle secured to its outer end and inc'losing said nut, said receptacle being adapted to contain lubricating material and being provided with a lid, and a packing ring surrounding the line of contact between the inner end of said axle-box and said axle-tree, and a plurality of outer spring split-rings adapted to hold said packing ring in position.

10. In an axle and axle-box the combination with an axle-tree having'a spindle, and a nut on the end of said spindle, of anaxlebox provided with areceptacle rigidly attached to its outer end and inclosing said nut, said receptacle being adapted to contain lubricating material and being provided with a lid having inward projections, and a packing ring surrounding the line of contact between the inner end of said axlebox and said axle-tree, and a plurality of outer spring split-rings adapted to hold said packing ring in position.

11. In an axle and axle-box the combination with an axle-tree having a spindle provided with a longitudinal groove, a longitudinal perforation, and an annular groove connecting said longitudinal perforation and said longitudinal groove; of an axlebox on said spindle provided with a receptacle adapted to contain lubricating material; and a packing ring surrounding the line of contact between the inner end of said axle-box and said axletree, and an outer spring split-ring adapted to hold said packing ring in position.

12. In an axle and axle-box the combination with an axle-tree having a spindle provided with a longitudinal groove, a longitudinal perforation, and an annular groove connecting said longitudinal perforation and said longitudinal groove; of an axlebox provided with a receptacle adapted to contain lubricating material, said axle-box having a lid provided with inward projections adapted to move or stir up said lubricating material, and :a packing ring surrounding the 'line of contact between the inner end of said axle-box and said axleltree, and anouter spring split-ring adapted to holds'aid packing ring in position.

said longitudinal groove, and a nut having a perforation in Its lateral iportlon; of an axle-box on said splndle provided wlth a 1 receptacle adapted to contain lubricating material; and a packing ring surrounding the line of contact between the inner end of said axle-box and said axle-tree, and an outer spring split ring adapted to :hold said packing ring in position.

1%. In an axle and axle-box, the combina tion with :anaxletree having a spindle provided with a longitudinal groove, a longitudinal perforation, an annular groove con necting said longitudinal perforation and said longitudinal groove, :and a nut having a perforation in its lateral portion; of an axle-box on said spindle provided with a receptacle adapted to contain lubricating material, said axle-box having a lid pro vided with inward projections adapted to move or stir up said lubricating material; and a packing ring surrounding the line of contact between the inner end of said axlebox and said axle-tree, and an outer spring split-ring adapted to hold said packing ring in position.

15. In an axle and axle-box the combination with an axle-tree having a spindle provided with a longitudinal groove, a longitudinal perforation, and an annular groove connecting said longitudinal perforation and said longitudinal groove; of an axlebox on said spindle provided with a receptacle adapted to contain lubricating material; and a packing ring surrounding the line of contact between the inner end of said axle-box and said axle-tree, and a plurality of spring split-rings surrounding said packing ring and adapted to hold the latter in position.

16. In an axle and axle-box the combination with an axle-tree having a spindle provided with a longitudinal groove a longitudinal perforation, and an annular groove connecting said longitudinal. perforation and said longitudinal groove; of an axlebox provided with a receptacle adapted to contain lubricating material, said axle-box having a lid provided with inward projections adapted to move or stir up said lubricating material; and a packing ring surrounding the line of contact between the inner end of said axle-box and said axletree, and a plurality of spring split-rings surrounding said packing ring and adapted to. hold the latter in position.

17 In an axle and axle-box, thecombination with an axle-tree having a spindle provided with a longitudinal groove, a longitudinal perforation, an annular groove connecting said longitudinal perforation and said longitudinal groove, and a nut having a perforation in its lateral portion; of an axle-box on said spindle provided with a receptacle adapted to contain lubricating material; and a packing ring surrounding the line of contact between the inner end of saidaxle-box and said axle-tree, and a plurality of spring split-rings surrounding said packing ring adapted to hold the latter in position.

18. In an axle and axle-box the combination with an axletree having a spindle provided with a longitudinal groove, a longitudinal perforation, an annular groove connecting said longitudinal perforation and said longitudinal groove, and a nut having a perforation in its lateral portion; of an axle-box on said spindle provided with a receptacle adapted to contain lubricating material, said axle-box having a lid provided with inward projections adapted to move or stir up said lubricating material; and a packing ring surrounding the line of contact between the inner end of said axlebox and said axle-tree, and a plurality of spring splitrings surrounding said packing ring and adapted to hold the latter in position.

19. In a pulley and bearing, the combination with a pulley, a shaft or axle for the same, and a member adapted to receive the end of said shaft or axle; of a packing ring surrounding the line of contact between the shaft or axle and the device with which it relatively rotates, and an outer spring ring adapted to hold said packing ring in position.

20. In a pulley and bearing, the combination with a pulley, a shaft or axle for the same, and a member adapted to receive the end of said shaft or axle; of a packing ring surrounding the line of contact between the shaft or axle and the device with which it relatively rotates, and a plurality of outer spring rings adapted to hold said packing ring in position.

In witness whereof I have hereunto signed my name this th day of October 1914, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

WILLIAM OSCAR SHADBOLT.

Witnesses:

LOUISE ENDERLE,

EDMOND CONGAR BROWN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. C. 

